Wednesday 1 October 2014 13:07, UK
This year's Cartier Racing Awards enter a pivotal phase over the coming weeks, with a feast of racing action across Europe and beyond, commencing with this weekend's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting at Longchamp.
The Cartier Racing Awards honour the champions of European horseracing and will be announced before an invited audience of 300 on the evening of Tuesday, November 11.
European horseracing's equivalent of the Oscars are delivered through a tried and tested combination of points earned by horses in Pattern races throughout 2014 (40%), combined at the end of season with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists (30%) and votes from readers of Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph plus Channel 4 Racing viewers (30%).
Channel 4 Racing joined The Daily Telegraph and Racing Post as media partners of the Cartier Racing Awards towards the end of the last year.
The Cartier Awards were established in 1991 to reward excellence in horseracing. In addition to the eight equine awards, the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit goes to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the special 17-strong Cartier Jury, has/have done the most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.
Brilliant miler Kingman (208) currently heads the standings for Cartier Horse Of Year and Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt, but his shock retirement with a throat infection has brought doubt to the outcome of both categories.
Dual Derby winner Australia (164) would overhaul the John Gosden-trained colt on points if victorious on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on October 18, with connections considering either the 10-furlong Group One QIPCO Champion Stakes or the mile Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Sponsored By QIPCO.
The Grey Gatsby (124), who gained a thrilling victory over Australia in the Group One QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes, is also set to line up in the British equivalent for owner Frank Gillespie and trainer Kevin Ryan, along with Cirrus Des Aigles (124) and Noble Mission (90).
Cirrus Des Aigles, Corine Barande-Barbe's stable star who captured the Ascot highlight when collecting the Cartier Older Horse Award in 2011, is set to make his first start since winning the Group One Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs in the Group Two Qatar Prix Dollar at Longchamp this Saturday (October 4).
QIPCO British Champions Day could also have a major bearing on the Cartier Stayer category, with Group One Gold Cup victor Leading Light (80), Group One Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger winner Brown Panther (72) and Estimate (24), successful in the Group Two Socialites Electric Cigarettes Doncaster Cup, under consideration for the Group One QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup.
This weekend's Group One Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is set to play a crucial role in crowning the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly, with both dual Group One winner Taghrooda (112) and unbeaten dual Classic heroine Avenir Certain (80) on course for the autumn middle distance feature at Longchamp on Sunday, October 5. Kingston Hill (56) and Ectot (24) could make late bids for Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt, while Treve (36), a stunning winner of the French race 12 months ago, will be aiming to bounce back to her best following a lacklustre campaign so far.
A glittering two-day card in Paris also includes the Group One QNB Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp on Sunday, which is set to feature the Edward Lynam-trained Sole Power (72) and Stepper Point (42), from the stable of William Muir, who are among the leading contenders for Cartier Sprinter Award.
They have already fought out the finish to the Group One King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group One Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York, with Sole Power prevailing on both occasions. Lynam is also responsible for Slade Power (72), who is being prepared for a final appearance in the Group One Darley Classic at Flemington, Australia, in November.
Tiggy Wiggy (56), trained by Richard Hannon, tops the standings for Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly Award following a superb front-running victory over Anthem Alexander (36) in the Group One Connolly's Red Mills Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday (September 27). Lucida (40) announced herself as a major contender for next year's Classics with an impressive victory in the Group Two Shadwell Rockfel Stakes the previous day.
The two principal juvenile races at Longchamp this coming Sunday (October 5) perennially highlight a future star and this year's Group One Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere may see a mouth-watering clash between Gleneagles (56) and The Wow Signal (48), who head the points for the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt following Group One victories in Ireland and France respectively.
Newmarket hosts Dubai Future Champions Day on October 17, which is also set to showcase a wealth of two-year-old talent with three Group One contests on the card - the Vision.ae Middle Park Stakes, the Dubai Fillies' Mile and the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes.
Harry Herbert, Cartier's Racing Consultant, commented: "We have been treated to some outstanding racing over the summer and the upcoming meetings at Longchamp, Ascot and Newmarket look set to provide a fitting crescendo to a magnificent European season.
"With many of the leading contenders set to run over the next few weeks before attention turns to the Breeders' Cup in America, there are plenty of opportunities for horses to enhance their chances of a Cartier Racing Award."
